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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 26, 2009 Contact: Anthony Puglisi
973-621-2542 Lauren Shears
973-621-1590 ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO PRESENTS $8.8 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS AND EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS
15 Municipalities and 42 Non-Profit Organizations Receive Funding for Infrastructure Improvements, Community Programs and Homeless Shelters Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced over $8.8 million will be distributed to 15 Essex County municipalities and 42 non-profit community organizations through the Community Development Block Grant program. An additional $269,207 in Emergency Shelter Grants will
be distributed to six social service agencies that provide support and housing to homeless residents. Both grant programs are funded through the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development. "Programs supported through the CDBG and ESG programs are direct investments into improving our quality of life," DiVincenzo said. "These federal grants enable us upgrade our sidewalks and roads, enhance handicap access, address mental health needs, support food pantries and stimulate economic development in our downtown commercial areas," he added. A total of about $6.9 million was awarded to the 15 municipalities in the Essex County consortium. Grant funding will be used to repave roadways, purchase buses for senior transportation programs, improve handicapped accessibility at public buildings and facilities, upgrade sidewalks, demolish vacant and unsafe structures, and support façade improvements in local business districts. Grants ranged in size from $58,200 to $1.6 million. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark apply for CDBG funding independently and do not participate in the Essex County consortium. Essex Fells, North Caldwell and Roseland did not submit applications. A total of about $1.9 million was awarded to 42 non-profit community organizations. Grant funding will support services for seniors and the disabled, recreation activities for children, mental health counseling, foreclosure prevention and first-time homebuyer education programs, facility renovations and vocational training. Grants ranged in size from $4,650 to $821,034. A total of $269,207 was awarded to six local social service agencies through the Emergency Shelter Grant program. Funding will be used to renovate shelter facilities or support housing programs for homeless residents. Grants range in size from $6,000 to $91,207. "The CDBG and ESG programs have proven to be essential in fostering economic development in Essex County," said Anibal Ramos, Director of the Essex County Department of Economic Development, Training and Employment. "The beauty of the CDBG program is its ability to fund a broad array of projects without affecting the County's budget. It is a great example of a tax relief program that benefits all County citizens," he said. "CDBG is a valuable program that helps to improve the quality of life in our low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and to keep our local commercial districts attractive and competitive," E. Michael Taylor, Director of the Essex County Housing and Community Development, said. "Through the leadership of our County Executive, and working cooperatively with our municipalities and non-profit groups, we are making a tremendous impact in our neighborhoods," he added. Municipalities and non-profit organizations must meet specific criteria established by the Federal Office of Housing and Urban Development to be eligible for grant funding. These funds have no impact on the County budget and cannot be used as revenue in the County's operating budget. The Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development, located at 20 Crestmont Road in Verona/Montclair, offers a variety of assistance programs designed to stimulate economic growth, stabilize residential neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents. It administers the Community Development Block Grant Program, Assistance Program and the Community Economic Revitalization Program for façade improvements for the County and 18 Essex municipalities. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark have their own housing and development programs. For more information, call the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development at 973-655-0200. Government Sponsored Projects
• Township of Belleville, Reconstruction of Baldwin Terrace ($286,000), Reconstruction of Homes Street ($47,150),CERP Façade Program ($50,000), Reconstruction of Main Street ($339,500), $722,650
• Borough of Caldwell, Reconstruction to Hawthorne Road, $82,450
• Township of Cedar Grove, Senior Citizen Bus Acquisition ($49,000), Upgrades to Canfield Village Improvement Area ($25,837), ADA improvements to Morgan's Farm ($38,500), $113,337
• Township of Fairfield, ADA improvements to Hollywood Avenue, $87,262
• Borough of Glen Ridge, Installation of ADA Curbs & Sidewalks, $58,200
• Township of Livingston, ADA Improvements to Business District, $73,720
• Township of Maplewood, Upgrades to Hillcrest Area Roads, Phase 2, $189,150
• Township of Millburn, ADA improvements to Elementary Schools, $71,780
• Township of Montclair, Improvements to Pine Street ($335,695), Montclair Neighborhood Development Corp. ($54,000), Family Service League ($36,350), Neighborhood Council ($6,927), Kindersmile Educational Workshops ($9,500), COPE Center ($35,000), $477,472
• Township of Nutley, CERP Façade Program ($115,400), Senior Citizen Bus Acquisition ($98,000), $213,400
• Township of Orange, Senior Citizen Bus Acquisition ($35,000), Resurfacing of Hampton Terrace ($70,000), Hillyer Street Sidewalk Improvements ($72,000), Expansion of Colgate Park ($125,000), Helping Hands and Ears Crisis Outreach Center ($20,000), Main Street Counseling Center ($25,000), Community Technical Assistance ($99,000), Horizon Community Development ($25,000), Securing Vacant Structures ($50,000), Demolition of Vacant Structures ($100,000), $621,000
• Village of South Orange, Construction of Performing Arts Center, $178,480
• Township of Verona, Improvements Bloomfield Avenue Streetscape, Phase 2, $160,050
• Township of West Caldwell, Barrier Free improvements to Municipal Building ($29,050), ADA Ramp for Public Pool ($46,905), $75,955
• Township of West Orange, CERP Façade Program ($50,000), Improvements to Nutman Place ($185,000), Improvements to Joyce Street ($45,000), Street Improvements to Washington, Ridghurst & Gaston Streets ($206,000), $486,000
• Essex County Public Works, Roadway Reconstruction to Various County Roads, $1,642,902
• County of Essex, Program administration, monitoring and oversight, $1,655,735
• County of Essex, Contingency, $50,000
Government Sponsored Projects Total - $6,959,543 Non-Profit Sponsored Projects
• Above the Rim, Inc., Newark, Administrative support, $11,250
• ARC of Essex County, Livingston, Disabilities staffing services and building renovations, $38,090
• ASPIRA, Inc., Newark, Building renovations, $24,000
• Brand New Day, Foreclosure Prevention Program, $16,650
• Clara Maass Residential Facility, Belleville, Residential Facility Services, $9,550
• Economic Development Corp., Newark, Administrative support, $157,000
• EIES of New Jersey, South Orange, Radio reader, $8,450
• Family Connections, Orange, Spanish language services, $16,000
• Family Service Bureau of Newark, Substance abuse program, $7,600
• Family Service League, Montclair, Expansion of Essex County Rape Care Center, $19,250
• First Cerebral Palsy of NJ, Belleville, Adult Day Care Program, $15,650
• First Occupational Center of NJ, Orange, Vocational training programs, $23,650
• FOCUS, Newark, Outreach and case management, $17,400
• Hopewell Urban Renewal Dev. Corp., Newark, Building rehabilitation, $15,000
• Ironbound Soccer Club, Newark, Training Program, $4,650
• Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, West Orange, Case Management Services for Frail Elderly, $6,500
• Essex County Department of Parks, ADA Accessible Bathroom at Kip's Castle Park, $50,000
• L. Goodman Consultants, Montclair, First Time Homebuyers Counseling, $40,000
• Main Street Counseling Center, West Orange, Mental Health Counseling Services, $14,350
• Mental Health Association, Montclair, Vehicle replacement, $9,550
• Montclair State University, ADA Improvements to Freedman Hall, $60,000
• NJ Citizen Action, Foreclosure Prevention Education, $43,610
• Newark Youth Golf, Inc., Summer program, $9,450
• North Ward Center, Newark, Casa Israel Senior Services, $78,650
• Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare, Montclair, Administrative support, $59,650
• Northwest Essex Comm. Healthcare, Belleville, Site renovation at Belleville facility, $26,000
• Opportunity Project, Millburn, Pre-vocational training & work adjustment, $43,550
• Orange Affordable Housing, Resident Services Program, $9,650
• Planned Parenthood, Newark, HIV Counseling and Testing, $9,450
• Senior Care Activities Center, Montclair, Nurse and social worker, $11,250
• Simmons Scholarship & Comm. Service, Newark, Drug counseling, $7,400
• Tenant Resource Center, East Orange, Landlord/Tenant counseling, $82,450
• Wynona's House, Newark, Fire safety improvements, $100,000
• Rutgers University Bloustein School, Newark, Foreclosure Prevention, $65,000
• Home Improvement Program, $821,034
Non-Profit Projects Total - $1,931,734 Emergency Shelter Grants
• Salvation Army (Montclair), Renovations to Shelter, $6,000
• Salvation Army (Montclair), Operating Expenses for Shelter Nights, $29,000
• Apostles' House (Newark), Renovations to Shelter, $66,500
• Interfaith Hospital Network (Newark), Operating Expenses for Shelter Nights, $25,000
• New Community Corporation - Harmony House (Newark), Operating Expenses for Shelter Nights, $25,000
• Newark YWMCA, Elevator Installation, $91,207
• United Community Corp. (Newark), Renovations to Shelter, $26,500
Total - $269,207 # # #
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